We are pleased to announce the 13th year of the Beachcomber’s Best of Long Beach Contest starting next month which – like last year – doubles the number of voting categories. Again this year the contest will be in two phases, with service-related business ballots distributed in February (winners announced in early April) and product-oriented business ballots distributed in July (winners recognized in early September).

We are asking local businesses to participate as a sponsor by providing us with 12 gift cards/certificates valued at a minimum of $25 each. Their business name will appear above both the February and July ballots to remind voters of their sponsorship and their cards/certificates will be distributed when the winners are announced.

Our popular contest typically draws 6,000 votes and last year our prizes totaled more than $10,000, including a $2,000 grand prize estate planning package offered by Jennifer Sawday with the law firm of Tredway, Lumsdaine and Doyle. We are open to similar grand prize packages this year as well.

For businesses that are not conducive to gift cards we will purchase them on their behalf and affix their business name to the product. Gift cards/certificates must not have any “strings attached,” requiring some form of purchase on the part of the recipient.

Obviously being a contest sponsor and/or having ads appear in our February or July issues in conjunction with the ballots will create a “top of mind” advantage over the competition. Just ask those businesses that keep winning year after year how they do it.

Business owners should contact our advertising department if interested in participating in 2014. Materials must be received by January 30 to be included on the February 7 & 21 ballots, mailed to: Best of Long Beach Sponsor, Beachcomber, P. O. Box 15679, Long Beach, CA 90815-0679. Alternately non-postal items (products other than cards/certificates) may be dropped off at our offices: 5199 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 608, (Los Altos Plaza in Park Estates) Long Beach.

Please give us a call at (562) 597-6252 if you have any questions. We also welcome your suggestions on our contest ballot categories, but keep in mind they must be applicable to a large segment of Long Beach area residents -- with multiple competitors -- to be considered.

The mailbox recently included the following joke, entitled “The Hotel Bill”

An older lady decided to give herself a big treat for her 70th birthday by staying overnight in a really nice hotel. When she checked out the next morning, the desk clerk handed her a bill for $250. She demanded to know why the charge was so high. “I agree it’s a nice hotel, but the rooms aren’t worth $250 for just an overnight stay! I didn’t even have breakfast.”

The clerk told her that $250 is the “standard rate,” and breakfast had been included had she wanted it. She insisted on speaking to the manager.

The manager appeared and, forewarned by the desk clerk, announced: “This hotel has an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference center, which are available for use.”

“But I didn’t use them,” she said.

"Well, they are here, and you could have,” explained the manager.He went on to explain that she could also have seen one of the in-hotel shows for which they were so famous. We have the best entertainers from the world over performing here,” the manager said.

“But I didn’t go to any of those shows,” she said.

“Well, we have them, and you could have,” the manager replied.No matter what amenity the manager mentioned, she replied, “But I didn’t use it!” and the manager countered with his standard response. After several minutes of discussion, and with the manager still unmoved, she decided to pay, wrote a check and gave it to him.

The manager was surprised when he looked at the check. “But madam, this check is for $50.”